Structural member



Sept. 7,1937. G. G. GREULICH STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed July 25, 1936 Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

The present invention relates to the production of a structural member having a web provided with means for self-centering the web to the flange members.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent asthe description proceeds, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the assembled structure,

- Figure 2 is a detailed section through the flange and web,

Figure 3 is a detailed section of a m'odifled form of flange projecting rib, and I Figure 4 is another form of projecting rib.

Referring more .particularly to the drawing, there is shown a structural beam member consisting of a web 2 and flange members 3 and l. The flange members 3 and 4 are provided with V- shaped projections 5 on their inner faces along their center line while the opposite side of the flanges are provided with corresponding V-shaped grooves 6. The web member 2 is provided, along each longitudinal edge, with a plurality of notched portions 1 adapted to form lugs or tongues 8 which are bent alternately in opposite directions from the plane of the web member to form, between the adjacent faces of the alternately bent lugs, a

substantially v-shaped area adapted to engage and rest upon the V-shaped projections formed on the flange members.

The web member 2 having its edges notched to form the lugs or tongues l bent alternately in opposite directions from the plane oi the web 2, defines opposed acute angles with respect to the planes of the normal web portion and the V-shaped projections formed on the flange member so that, when positioned between the flange members, with the ,alternate lugs engaging opposite sides of the V-shaped projections, there is tongues are spot welded to the V-shaped projections.

A decided advantage is presented by the formation of a substantially v-shaped projection on the flanges in that the opposite faces form a V-shaped groove which permits better backing for the electrodes during the spot welding process.

The projection on the flange members may be semi-elliptical in cross-section, as shown at 9 in Figure 3, or semi-circular in cross-section, as shown at It in Figure}, instead of the V-shaped projection 5 illustrated in Figure 1.

The principle involved may be applied with web members and flange members 01' other shapes.

- presented a rigid assembly when the lugs or' bers having a web and a flange or flanges welded thereto; such, for example, as T's and other common types.

While I have shown and described specific forms of the invention, it is to be understood that I do 5 not wish it to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A welded beam structure comprising flanges provided with central longitudinal V-shaped ribs on their inner faces and a solid web portion having tongues extending alternately in opposite directions along said V-shaped ribs, each of said 15 tongues defining an angle coinciding to the angle formed by said V-shaped ribs.

2. A welded beam structure comprising flanges provided with central longitudinal substantially V-shaped ribs on their inner faces and a solid web portion having contiguous tongues bent alternately in opposite directions to the normal plane of the web to deflne angles coincident with the angles formed by said V-shaped ribs when said 25 tongues are positioned along said V-shaped ribs.

3. A welded beam assembly comprising flange members having V-shaped ribs extending longitudinally thereof and a solid web member having lugs extending alternately in opposite directions 80 of the normal plane of the web and engaging opposite sides of the ribs formed on said flanges.

' 4. A welded beam assembly comprising flange members having projections semi-circular in 35 cross-section extending longitudinally thereof and a web member having lugs extending alternately in opposite directions of the normal plane of the web and engaging opposite sides of the projections formed on said flanges. 4o

5. A welded beam structure comprising a flange provided with a central longitudinal rib on one side and a groove formed on the other side of said flange coincident with said rib and a solid web portion having tongues extending alternately 45 in opposite directions with their outer ends secured to said flange over itsentire longitudinal length along said rib.

6. A welded beam structure comprising flanges provided with a central substantially V-shaped 5 longitudinal rib on their inner faces and a correspondingly shaped groove on their other faces and a solid web extending throughout the entire longitudinal length of said flange and having tongues extending alternately in opposite directions along said web, said tongues and rib being welded together.

7. A welded beam structure comprising a onepiece solid web provided with tongues extending alternately from at least one edge in opposite directions to the normal plane of said web and at least one flange provided with a longitudinally extending rib, said rib having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the flange and integral therewith, said tongues adapted to engage opposite sides of said longitudinally extending rib, said 'web welded to said flange at points of contact where said tongues engage said longitudinally extending rib.

8. A welded beam structure comprising a onepiece solid web provided with tongues extending alternately from at least one edge in opposite directions to the normal plane of said web and at least one flange provided with a longitudinally extending rib on one side and a correspondingly shaped groove formed on the other side, said rib having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the flange and integral therewith,

said tongues adapted to engage opposite sides of said longitudinally extending rib, said web welded to said flange at points of contact where said tongues engage said longitudinally extending rib.

9. A structural member comprising a flange and a web welded together, said flange having a longitudinal portion of its metal extended out of the normal horizontal plane to produce a rib on one side and a correspondingly shaped groove on its other side, said web provided with laterally extended tongues on at least one edge, said tongues alternately projecting on each side of said rib whereby said web and flange are welded continuously throughouttheir length.

GERALD G. GREULICH. 

